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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-09-2013 05:57 PM

LifeofRiley

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevenzachsmom

OH, I didn't see you had an album. Violet is gorgeous. I love her face. Like her name too. She looks like an absolute sweetheart. Do you know for sure what her parents were? I think she could be shepherd/golden? Whatever she is, she is a doll.

I agree! She is very pretty! And, I too, can see why people think Shepherd mix. I have no expertise about whether or not her growth could have been stunted... However, she looked well proportioned in the photos.

01-09-2013 05:29 PM

Stevenzachsmom

OH, I didn't see you had an album. Violet is gorgeous. I love her face. Like her name too. She looks like an absolute sweetheart. Do you know for sure what her parents were? I think she could be shepherd/golden? Whatever she is, she is a doll.

01-09-2013 05:19 PM

Stevenzachsmom

OP, I'd love to see pictures of your girl. I just got a mixed breed pup from the shelter. I don't care if people call him a mongrel or mutt. Like you said, mixed breeds are some of the most awesome dogs. It sounds like you love your girl a lot.

01-09-2013 05:17 PM

trudy

after looking at your pics I would say she is definitely NOT German Shepherd/Lab cross, yep I've seen lots of that cross and would say she has spaniel, or border collie thrown in and many other breeds.. I would say very small if any German Shepherd/lab at all...pretty but not what you were told. I am sure she is very sweet and when you can let her inside without a heavy chain on her she will be happy and healthy. I do feel very sorry for her that at a very young age she was tied outside where any and all passing males could forcibly breed her, how very sad and traumatic for her, and working at a shelter I would have thought you should have known how to prevent that and would have known the parentage suggested for her was not likely, someone just guessed when she came in, or believed the people who dropped them off. Sure hope you can do better with and by her soon, she does depend on that, and if she isn't spayed yet, thanks for adding to the over population and dogs dying in shelters

01-09-2013 04:05 PM

selzer

Labs are similar to GSDs in that there are American labs, and there are English labs, and there are everything in between. Americans tend to super-size everything, but I think that there are lines of labs that are not as large as GSDs. For a female that may be the case here, she is out of a smaller line of lab, and she got that size. Possibly, though it isn't impossible for her growth to be stunted as well.

Mongrel is not a derogatory term. I am sorry you took it as such. My point was, when you take a breed that has a LOT of variation in it between the lines, like the GSD has, and mix it with another breed of dog, you really cannot guaranty anything with respect to bodily dimensions.

My other comments were understood as they were intended. I find it interesting when people who work at shelters buy dogs at pet stores, or let their mixed-breed dogs pro-create because most of them tend to be totally anti-breeding and understand that pet stores are fed by puppy mills. So it genuinely surprised me.

01-09-2013 02:31 PM

JeanKBBMMMAAN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauri & The Gang

Unless you know 100% that the parents were purebred GSD and purebred Lab and that there was 0% chance that any other dog could have gotten to the bitch during her season - there's no way to know EXACTLY what her genetic makeup is.

There could be some smaller dog genetics in her background and that could influence her size.

This, plus, unless you see the parents, know what their family members look like, you can't guess yet again, because you don't have an idea of what they are producing in terms of size.

What I would do, having adopted a dog who was shelter mom who seemed pretty young (I got her from the shelter on a contract - which again, is not infallible and in my mind is not effective) to have had a litter of 5 puppies (that were all adopted from the shelter 2 months before I got her), is to consider asking your vet if x-rays would be able to determine if she's okay growth wise. I have no idea if they would, but I swear with my dog being so young it messed with her structure/pelvis! My vet says for that idea, but I did talk to him about it (she had to have x-rays for limping has mild HD).

As far as health, I made sure my dog was exercised, kept at a healthy (thin) weight, and at the time I think she was eating Chicken Soup dog food that I could get at a feed store.

Maybe breeders could answer if they know of any long-term health impacts of juvenile pregnancies? I tried to google it, even google scholar, but didn't find a lot which is kind of too bad that we aren't thinking of it!

I also hope she's allowed indoors now - she sounds like she would do well!

01-09-2013 02:06 PM

Jax08

Quote:

Originally Posted by llombardo

Isn't it mandatory for dogs at an Humane Society to be spayed/neutered?

It depends on the state/area. In PA, it is mandatory. Our local HS takes a deposit that is refunded when you provide proof of spay/neuter. If you do not comply within a certain time period, they will take you to court. The HS I adopted Jax from, in PA, does them before they leave the facility. They did let me out the door with her because she was so young but I made the appointment, and they spoke to my vet, while I was filling out adoption papers.

01-09-2013 01:27 PM

Lauri & The Gang

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohhhhdannyboy

A little over a year ago, i adopted a labrashepherd puppy. Her name is violet.

Unless you know 100% that the parents were purebred GSD and purebred Lab and that there was 0% chance that any other dog could have gotten to the bitch during her season - there's no way to know EXACTLY what her genetic makeup is.

There could be some smaller dog genetics in her background and that could influence her size.

01-09-2013 11:46 AM

msvette2u

I PMed you, jocoyn.

01-09-2013 11:15 AM

jocoyn

Goodness msvette, can you give the OP a break.
The word "Naturally" was in front of the post which implies that she was spayed.

If the OP comes on and says, "yep I just-a tie her out every heat and let whatever happens happen"...then I will post judgement but you are reading way between the lines here. Nice way to greet a new poster, JMO.

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